New York, USA (CNN) - The exchange rate of the Russian ruble against the US dollar rose in trading, Thursday, to 72.75 rubles per dollar, after European companies prepared to accept the payment terms announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Gas distributors in Germany and Austria told CNN they are working on ways to accept a Russian ultimatum that final payments for its gas should be made in rubles, in compliance with EU sanctions.

On Thursday, Germany's Uniper said it would continue to pay for Russian gas in euros, but added that it believed a "penal law-compliant transfer of payments" was possible.

For its part, the Austrian energy company (OMVJF) said Thursday that it had considered the new payment request from the Russian gas giant Gazprom and that it was "now working on a solution compatible with the sanctions."

President Vladimir Putin said last month that "unfriendly" countries would have to pay in rubles instead of euros or dollars stipulated in the contracts. Buyers can make payments in euros or dollars into an account in Russia's Gazprom, which will then convert the money into rubles and transfer it to a second account through which payments are made to Russia.